Welcome to PlainViews®

PlainViews'® mission is to translate knowledge and skills into effective chaplaincy practice and care for the human spirit.

PlainViews® is a publication of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Network® (HCCN). PlainsViews® helps support the work of HCCN by publishing scholarly works, articles and studies at the intersection of health care and spiritual care, advancing best practices, and providing information about educational events, publications and course work of interest to practitioners.

HealthCare Chaplaincy Network™ is a national health care nonprofit organization that offers spiritual-related information and resources, and professional chaplaincy services in hospitals, other health care settings, and online. Its mission is to advance the integration of spiritual care in health care through clinical practice, research and education in order to help people faced with illness, suffering and grief find comfort and meaning—whoever they are, whatever they believe, wherever they are. For more information, visit www.healthcarechaplaincy.org, call 212-644-1111, and connect with us on Twitterand Facebook.

Group rates are available. Contact usfor a quote for the size of your department, system, or other group.

Ask the Chaplain is a feature which gives PlainViews® readers the opportunity to learn about their chaplaincy colleagues and share their thoughts about what they believe is important in today's chaplaincy practice. Participants are being sought on an ongoing basis to share their insight and wisdom. Questions are provided that can be answered by writing out your responses or by participating in a telephone interview. If you are interested in participating, you can find more information - including the questions -here.

Help petition Congress on the value of professional health care chaplaincy

HealthCare Chaplaincy Network is collecting signatures for a petition that will be disseminated to members of Congress. It explains why and how professional health care chaplains cost-effectively improve patient and family experience and satisfaction with their health care. We urge you to read the statement and sign the petitionhere. In addition, share the weblink with your professional network and everyone you know (does not need to be chaplains) who support the statement as well as promote on social media. The deadline for signatures is April 15, 2015.

WHAT: An opportunity to engage in conversation with other health care professionals committed to the integration of spirituality in health care and to learn about innovations in the delivery of spiritual care.

Sue Wintz, MDiv BCC is the managing editor of Plainviews® and Director, Professional and Community Education at HealthCare Chaplaincy Network. She has over 30 years of clinical, administrative, educational design, development and teaching experience in the provision of professional chaplaincy and spiritual care in health care and congregational settings. She is a board certified member and past president of the Association of Professional Chaplains who, in 2013 gave her its highest honor - the Anton Boisen Professional Service Award. Sue joined HealthCare Chaplaincy in 2010.

Marian Betancourt is associate editor of PlainViews and a professional writer and editor who has published many books includingWhat to Do When Love Turns Violent, published in 2001 by HarperCollins. The New York Times called it “the best single resource.” It is now available as an ebook.